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Writer's pictureMatthew Samson

The 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time

It has been exactly one year since Game of Thrones season 8 has premiered, which has seemingly sparked a downward trend for all of humanity. Since the lackluster final season, the Bruins lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at home, I lost in two fantasy football league playoff games, Kobe passed away, Tom Brady went to the fucking Buccaneers, and of course the Corona virus. Things have not been good to say the least, but it has given me plenty of time to do random things like write this article. I've decided to only include players who played from the 60s and after because who really knows anything about Bob Pettit or George Mikan? My criteria is winning, statistics, accomplishments, legacy, and the eye test. I will admit that I hold championships, the clutch gene, and winning over the other things because I think they means more.


50. Wes Unseld (1968-1981)

- Career: 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 RBG

  • 6x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 1x Finals MVP

49. Robert Parish (1976-1997)

- Career: 14.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.6 BPG

  • 9x All-Star

  • 4x NBA Champion

  • 2x All-NBA Team

48. Gary Payton (1991-2007)

- Career: 16.3 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.9 RBG

  • 9x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x Defensive Player of the Year

  • 9x All-Defensive Team

  • 9x All-NBA Team

47. James Worthy (1982-1994)

- Career: 17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG

  • 7x All-Star

  • 3x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 2x All-NBA Team

46. Russell Westbrook (2009-present)

- Career: 23.0 PPG, 8.4 APG, 7.0 RBG

  • 9x All-Star

  • 1x MVP

  • 2x Scoring Champion

  • 2x Assists Leader

  • 8x All-NBA Team











45. James Harden (2010-present)

- Career: 24.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.2 APG

  • 7x All-Star

  • 1x MVP

  • 1x Sixth Man of the Year

  • 5x All-NBA Team

44. Willis Reed (1964-1974)

- Career: 18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.8 RBG

  • 7x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 1x MVP

  • 5x All-NBA Team

43. Paul Pierce (1999-2017)

- 19.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 6x All-NBA Team

42. Patrick Ewing (1986-2002)

- 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG

  • 11x All-Star

  • 3x All-Defensive Team

  • 7x All-NBA Team

41. Dominque Wilkins (1983-1999)

- 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.5 APG

  • 9x All-Star

  • 7x All-NBA Team










40. Elvin Hayes (1968-1984)

- Career: 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.0 BPG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x Scoring Champion

  • 2x All-Defensive Team

  • 6x All-NBA Team

39. Kevin McHale (1981-1993)

- 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG

  • 7x All-Star

  • 3x NBA Champion

  • 2x Sixth Man of the Year

  • 6x All-Defensive Team

  • 1x All-NBA Team

38. Chris Paul (2005-present)

- Career: 18.5 PPG, 9.7 APG, 4.5 RBG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 6x Steals Leader

  • 4x Assists Leader

  • 9x All-Defensive Team

  • 8x All-NBA Team











37. Walt Frazier (1967-1980)

- Career: 18.9 PPG, 6.1 APG, 5.9 RBG

  • 7x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 7x All-Defensive Team

  • 6x All-NBA Team


36. George Gervin (1973-1986)

- Career: 25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.6 APG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 7x All-NBA Team

  • 4x Scoring Champion

35. Clyde Drexler (1984-1998)

- Career: 20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 5x All-NBA Team

34. Jason Kidd (1995-2013)

- Career: 12.6 PPG, 8.7 APG, 6.3 RPG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 9x All-Defensive Team

  • 6x All-NBA Team

33. Steve Nash (1997-2014)

- Career: 14.3 PPG, 8.5 APG, 3.0 RPG

  • 8x All-Star

  • 2x MVP

  • 7x All-NBA Team











32. Rick Barry (1966-1980)

- 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.9 APG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 6x All-NBA Team

31. Bob Cousy (1951-1970)

- Career: 18.4 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.2 RPG

  • 13x All-Star

  • 6x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 12x All-NBA Team

30. Allen Iverson (1997-2010)

- Career: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG

  • 11x All-Star

  • 1x MVP

  • 7x All-NBA Team

  • 4x Scoring Champ

29. Steph Curry (2010-present)

- Career: 23.5 PPG, 6.7 APG, 4.5 RPG

  • 6x All-Star

  • 3x NBA Champion

  • 2x MVP

  • 5x All-NBA Team

28. Kawhi Leonard (2011-present)

- Career: 17.7 PPG, 2.4 APG, 6.3 RBG

  • 4x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 2x Defensive Player of the Year

  • 5x All-Defensive Team

  • 3x All-NBA Team











27. Elgin Baylor (1959-1972)

- 27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

  • 11x All-Star

  • 10x All-NBA Team

26. Isiah Thomas (1982-1994)

- Career: 19.2 PPG, 9.3 APG, 3.6 RPG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 5x All-NBA Team

25. Scottie Pippen (1988-2004)

- 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG

  • 7x All-Star

  • 6x NBA Champion

  • 10x All-Defensive Team

  • 7x All-NBA Team










24. John Stockton (1985-2003)

- Career: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.7 RPG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 5x All-Defensive Team

  • 11x All-NBA Team

  • All-Time Leader in Assists (15,806)

23. John Havlicek (1963-1978)

- 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG

  • 13x All-Star

  • 8x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 8x All-Defensive Team

  • 11x All-NBA Team

22. Dwayne Wade (2004-2019)

- Career: 22.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.4 APG

  • 13x All-Star

  • 3x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 3x All-Defensive Team

  • 8x All-NBA Team

21. Moses Malone (1975-1995)

- 20.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.3 APG

  • 13x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 3x MVP

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 2x All-Defensive Team

  • 9x All-NBA Team

  • 6x Rebound Champion

20. Charles Barkley (1985-2000)

- 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG

  • 11x All-Star

  • 1x MVP

  • 11x All-NBA Team

19. David Robinson (1990-2003)

- 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 1x Defensive Player of the Year

  • 8x All-Defensive Team

  • 10x All-NBA Team

18. Dirk Nowitzki (1999-2019)

- 20.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 APG

  • 14x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 12x All-NBA Team

17. Kevin Garnett (1996-2016)

- 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG

  • 15x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 1x Defensive Player of the Year

  • 12x All-Defensive Team

  • 9x All-NBA Team









16. Karl Malone (1986-2004)

- 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG

  • 14x All-Star

  • 2x MVP

  • 4x All-Defensive Team

  • 14x All-NBA Team

15. Kevin Durant (2008-present)

- 27.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.1 APG

  • 10x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 8x All-NBA Team

  • 4x Scoring Champion

14. Jerry West (1961-1974)

- Career: 27.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.8 RPG

  • 14x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 12x All-NBA Team

13. Julius Erving (1972-1987)

- 24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG

  • 16x All-Star

  • 2x ABA Champion

  • 4x MVP* (3 from ABA)

  • 7x All-NBA Team

  • 1x All-Defensive Team










12. Shaquille O'Neal (1993-2011)

- 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG

  • 15x All-Star

  • 4x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 3x Finals MVP

  • 3x All-Defensive Team

  • 14x All-NBA Team

  • 2x Scoring Champion

11. Oscar Robertson (1961-1974)

- Career: 25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG, 7.5 RPG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 1x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 11x All-NBA Team

10. Hakeem Olajuwon (1985-2002)

- Career: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 2x Defensive Player of the Year

  • 9x All-Defensive Team

  • 12x All-NBA Team

  • 3x Block Champion

  • 2x Rebound Champion

  • All-Time Blocks Leader (3,830)


9. Tim Duncan (1998-2016)

- 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG

  • 15x All-Star

  • 5x NBA Champion

  • 2x MVP

  • 3x Finals MVP

  • 15x All-Defensive Team

  • 15x All-NBA Team

8. Kobe Bryant (1997-2016)

- Career: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG

  • 18x All-Star

  • 5x NBA Champion

  • 1x MVP

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 12x All-Defensive Team

  • 15x All-NBA Team









7. Wilt Chamberlain (1960-1973)

- Career: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG

  • 13x All-Star

  • 2x NBA Champion

  • 4x MVP

  • 1x Finals MVP

  • 2x All-Defensive Team

  • 10x All-NBA Team

  • 11x Rebound Champion

  • 7x Scoring Champion

6. Bill Russell (1957-1969)

- 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 11x NBA Champion

  • 5x MVP

  • 11x All-NBA Team

  • 4x Rebound Champion

5. Larry Bird (1980-1992)

- 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 3x NBA Champion

  • 3x MVP

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 3x All-Defensive Team

  • 10x All-NBA Team

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-1989)

- 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG

  • 19x All-Star

  • 6x NBA Champion

  • 6x MVP

  • 2x Finals MVP

  • 11x All-Defensive Team

  • 15x All-NBA Team

  • 4x Block Champion

  • 2x Scoring Champion

3. Lebron James (2004-present)

- 27.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.2 APG

  • 15x All-Star

  • 3x NBA Champion

  • 4x MVP

  • 3x Finals MVP

  • 6x All-Defensive Team

  • 14x All-NBA Team

2. Magic Johnson (1980-1992)

- Career: 19.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, 5.7 RPG

  • 12x All-Star

  • 5x NBA Champion

  • 3x MVP

  • 3x Finals MVP

  • 10x All-NBA Team

1. Michael Jordan (1985-2003)

- Career: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG

  • 14x All-Star

  • 6x NBA Champion

  • 5x MVP

  • 6x Finals MVP

  • 1x Defensive Player of the Year

  • 9x All-Defensive Team

  • 11x All-NBA Team

  • 10x Scoring Champion


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